Laparoscopic anterior hemifundoplication improves key symptoms without impact on GE in children with and children without neurodevelopmental delays.

AIM: We investigated the impact of laparoscopic anterior hemifundoplication on gastric emptying (GE) and specific symptoms in children with and children without neurodevelopmental delays gastroesophageal reflux. Scintigraphic and ultrasonographic GE measurements were correlated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-six children (mean age 7 ± 6.1 years), of whom 14 were neurodevelopmentally delayed, were evaluated prospectively before 3 and 6 months after laparoscopic anterior hemifundoplication. All of the patients underwent clinical assessments, interviews, and 24-hour pH monitoring. Key symptoms were evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale. Gastric emptying was assessed by Tc-99m-DTPA-scintigraphy and ultrasonography. RESULTS: All of the children had significant catch-up growth after fundoplication, which was more pronounced in the neurologically normal children (P < 0.05 vs impaired), in line with a decrease in the use of omeprazol (mean 0.93 ± 0.7 mg · kg(-1) · day(-1) before and 0.06 ± 0.18 mg · kg(-1) · day(-1) at 6 months after operation; P < 0.001). The 24-hour pH monitoring normalized in all of the children, and the mean severity of the key symptoms such as vomiting, choking, and pain was significantly reduced (P < 0.001). Scintigraphic GE parameters, such as the elimination rate/minute, gastric half-emptying time (t1/2), gastric residual activity (RA), and duration of the initial merging time, were not altered significantly by the operation (P > 0.05). Ultrasonographic evaluations confirmed these results [positive correlation with scintigraphy for t1/2 (P = 0.006) and RA (P = 0.01)]. The symptoms evolution and GE were uncorrelated (P > 0.01). There were no significant differences between children with and children without neurodevelopmental delays. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic anterior hemifundoplication achieves an excellent symptomatic outcome without affecting GE in children with and children without neurodevelopmental delays.

Impact of laparoscopic anterior 270 degrees fundoplication on the quality of life and symptoms profile of neurodevelopmentally delayed versus neurologically unimpaired children and their parents.

BACKGROUND: This prospective study investigated the therapy-induced changes in the quality of life (QoL) experienced by neurologically healthy and neurodevelopmentally delayed children and their parents after laparoscopic anterior 270 degrees fundoplication (LAF). METHODS: In this study, 40 patients (21 impaired) with a mean age of 7.8 years underwent LAF for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and were evaluated before surgery and then 3 and 6 months afterward using the Gastrointestinal Quality-of-Life Index (GIQLI) supplemented by conventional symptom markers. RESULTS: Growth, proton pump inhibitor use, and frequency of supraesophageal/respiratory symptoms improved significantly (p < 0.001) as did feeding parameters (p < 0.05). The global GIQLI score improved by 49 +/- 21% (p < 0.001). The greatest improvement occurred in the symptoms domain (p < 0.001). However, positive alterations also were found in the dimensions of emotions (58%), social functions (37%) and physical functions (27%) (p < 0.001). Comparison of the overall benefit did not show any differences between the subgroups of neurologically fit and impaired children. However, for the child-centered symptoms domain, the benefit increased stepwise with the degree of impairment. This was counterbalanced by an inverse relationship for the parent-centered emotions domain (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Besides the known improvement in symptoms, LAF achieves a significant improvement in QoL for children and their parents. There is no overall difference in the benefit experienced by neurologically impaired and healthy children.